Repeater fuse switch



July 30,. 1940.

c. A. FOX 2.209.396

REPEATER FUSE SWITCH Filed June 18, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a, 62 62 a 4a 64a 41 I 85 4.2 g 7 2 C 4 2| 4 42 8 G7 a 88 19 4 s9 7 3a 15 19' 23 Wyn/roe (HA/G255 40/ Fox ATTORNEY July 30, 1940. c. A. FOX 2,209,396 4 REPEATER FUSE SWITCH Filed June 18, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7.3 m r W r[1/ r glllllu'illll mu u vallmyr-vsl //Y Vf/YTOE 0mm 5 Amy fax Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REPEATER. FUSE swrron Application June 18, 1938, Serial No. 214,403

9 Claims.

fuse switches of the repeater type and more specifically to a switch of the type disclosed in an application for United States Letters Patent filed 5 in my name on July 2, 1937, Serial No. 151,587, the predominant object of the present invention being to provide an improved repeater switch of the type disclosed in the application for patent identified above which includes means for slowing 10 the operation of the switch as the effective path of the electrical current is transferred from one set of parts of the switch to another set of parts thereof so as to insure at all voltages complete interruption of the path of the current through 15 one set of parts of the switch before a path of current through another set of parts of the switch is established.

The repeater switch disclosed in the application for patent mentioned above has been found so to function in a highly efficient manner, but in order to eliminate any and all possibilties of failure in operation it has been considered advisable to slow down the current transfer action of the switch slightly when the switch is used with go voltages of 15 kv. or over. With voltages of less than 15 kv. no such slowing down action is required, and in connection with the higher voltages such slowing down action ordinarily is not essential, but, as stated above, in order to elimi- 30 nate any chance that the transfer action of the switch may be too rapid under'some circumstances with higher voltages the switch is provided with means for slowing down the transfer action of the switch as hereinafter described.

5 In the operation of the switch when constructed as disclosed in my previously filed application for patent, the passage of current through the switch is transferred from one path to another in approximately a cycle and a half, and in 40 accordance with the arrangement disclosed in the present application such transfer is accomplished in from fifty to sixty cycles. By so slowing down the transfer action of the switch the likelihood that the secondary path of current 45 through the switch will be established before the primary path is completely interrupted is entirely eliminated.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved switch, parts thereof being shown in perspective 5 because of their angular dispositions Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical section illustrating the mechanism for slowing down the transfer action of the switch.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the switch illustrated in Fig. 1, here also parts of the switch be- (Cl. 200-126) This invention relates generally to electrical ing shown in perspective because of their angular disposition. v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation illus- 6 trating parts of the transfer mechanism and the slowing down mechanism associated therewith as these parts appear when transfer of the passage of current through the switch from one path to another has been accomplished. 10

In the drawings, wherein are shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention A designates the improved switch generally. The switch A includes a suitable insulator B to which is attached a bracket C that serves as means for securing the switch A to a cross arm or other support.

Secured to the insulator B adjacent to the upper end thereof is the upper terminal I of the improved switch, said upper terminal including a block la which is provided with an arcuate face that contacts with the 'curved surface of the insulator, and a rigid arm i b that extends upwardly from said block. The arm lb of the upper terminal has associated therewith a suitable connector 2 for electrically connecting an electrical conductor ,(not shown) to the upper terminal.

"Associated with/the upper terminal I is an upper contact 3"'which preferably, though not 3 necessarily, is formed of heavy wire possessing resiliency. The upper contact 3 includes a portion 3a which embraces the insulator, this embracing portion being disposed in an annular groove formed in the insulator. Also the upper contact includes a pair of slightly convergent portions which extend forwardly from the insulator embracing portion, and at points adjacent to the opposite sides of the block of the upper terminal, eyes 4 are formed in the forwardly ex- 0 tended portions of the upper contact. Extended through the eyes 4 and through opposed washer elements 5 is a bolt 6 which serves to draw the forwardly extended portions of the upper contact toward each other whereby the insulator embracing portion is caused to grip the insulator tightly and the upper terminal is securely attached to the insulator B. i

Adjacent to the forward end of the upper contact 3 a sleeve 1 is provided which embraces the forwardly extended portions of said upper contact so as to prevent undue spreading of said forwardly extended portions. Also at the extreme outer end of the upper contact the forwardly extended portions thereof are bent rearwardly upon member by a bolt themselves as indicated at 8 and the rear end portions of .said rearwardly bent portions are flared outwardly. As will be presently made plain herein the rearwardly bent forward portions 8 of the upper contact provide gripping portions which receive portions of fuse links associated with the switch, and the flared portions serve to guide the portions of the fuse links into said gripping portions. In order to prevent the rearwardly bent portions 8 from moving outwardly to an unnecessary degree and thereby destroying the gripping action of the gripping portions of the upper contact a cap I0 is frictionally applied to the outer end of the upper contact, in embracing relation with respect thereto.

The improved switch A includes a pair of lower contacts, one thereof, which is designated by the reference character ll, being attached to the insulator B at a point adjacent to the lower end thereof, and the other lower contact, which is designated by the reference character [2, being attached to the insulator at a point a slight distanceabove the point of attachment of said lower contact II. The means for attaching the lower contact [2 to the insulator B includes an arcuate member l3 having an arcuate face which is arranged in contact with the curved face of the insulator. The member I3 is secured to the insulator by a curved rod [4 which embraces the insulator in one of the annular depression of said insulator, the opposite end portions of said curved rod being extended through openings formed through portions of the member I3 and said opposite end portions of said rod being screwthreaded adjacent to their ends to receive nuts 15 which may be drawn up to cause the curved rod and the member l3 to tightly engage the insulator. The member I3 constitutes the lower terminal of the switch, being provided with an outwardly projected extension [6 which has associated therewith a suitable connector l1 through the instrumentality of which an electrical conductor (not shown) may be electrically connected to said extension.

The contact l2 preferably is formed from a single length of heavy wire and it includes a horizontal loop 18 at its inner end, said contact I2 being secured to an extension IQ of the arcuate' [9' whose shank extends through the loop l8 of the contact and into an opening formed in said extension l9. From the loop l8 divergent portions 22 (Fig. 3) of the contact l2 extend forwardly and continuations of these divergent portions 22 are bent helically to provide the contact with opposed spring portions 23- which give to the contact the required resiliency. I

The portions 22 of the contact l2 enter the centers of the helically wound spring portions and leading from the lower, outer portions of said s'pringrportions is a pair of parallel contact portions 24 which terminate in convergent portions 25. From the forward endsof the convergent portions 25 parallel and relatively closely positioned contact portions 26 are extended forwardly and at the forward end of the contact these portions 26 are bent rearwardly upon themselves as indicated at -21 o provide gripping portions, similar to the gripping portions of the upper contact 3, which are adapted to engage portions of fuse,

links as will presently appear herein. Extended from the rearwardly bent portions 21 are outward ly flared portions 28 which serve to guide fuse links into the gripping portions. In order to prevent undue spreading of the contact portions 26 sleeves 29 are provided which embrace and through an aperture formed through the wall of the hollow insulator B.

The lower contact II is constructed and arranged just as is the lower contact |2 which has already been described in detail herein; that is to say said lower contact ll includes a loop at 'its inner end, opposed helically wound spring portions 38, spaced apart portions 38' which extend forwardly from the lower portions of the spring portions, convergent portions 39, adj acently positioned, forwardly extended portions 40, and rearwardly bent portions 4| at the outer end of the contact which provide gripping portions havingflared guides 42 associated therewith. Likewise the contact II has sleeves 43 associated with the portions 40 thereof and a cap 44 applied to the outer end of the contact, the sleeves and cap being intended to prevent undue spreading of parts of the contact. The contact II is secured to the insulator by the bolt 33 heretofore referred to. the shank of said bolt passing through the upstanding loop of the contact.

The member 3! that supports the lower conportions 5| as shown at 52, and the remaining portions of the length of wir'e are bent upwardly in spaced relation with respect to the portions 52 as indicated at 53, the upper end portions of said portions 53 being flared outwardly to provide inclined guides 54. The transfer contact is provided with a sleeve 55 which prevents undue spreading of the portions 50 thereof, and said transfer contact is secured to the member 3| by a bolt 56 in the same general mannerthat the lower contacts I I and I2 are secured to the members 3land I3.

In its fully fused condition the improved switch includes a pair of fuse links 60 and SI of like construction and arrangement. fuse links comprises a pair of flexible cables 52 which are spaced apart at their inner ends to provide a gap, and a fusible element (not shown) which is electrically and mechanically connected to the inner end portions of said cables is disposed in said gap. The fusible element and the adjacent inner portions of the flexible cables 62 of each fuse link are enclosed within a tube 64 which preferably is formed of horn fiber or other material that is characterized by the ability to give off a gas in the presence of the heat of an Each of these I spring portions 23.

posed between and is supported by a collar 64a and a coil spring 6421 that are supported by the cables 62. At the outer ends of the cables 62 of each fuse link loops 66 are formed and fixed to the flexible conductors in close proximity to the loops are stop buttons 61.

When the improved switch is fully fused the lower flexible cable of the fuse link is drawn into one of the gripping portions at the outer end portion of the lower contact H, while the lower flexible cable of the fuse link 6| is drawn into one of the gripping portions at the outer end portion of the lower contact l2. Also when the lower flexible cables have been drawn into gripping portions of the lower contacts ii and,

92 as stated above, the lower stop buttons 61 contact with the under sides of said lower contacts. Furthermore during the fully fused position of the improved switch the upper flexible cables of the fuse links 60 and BI are drawn into the gripping portions of the upper contact 3, the upper flexible cable of the fuse link 60 being drawn into the gripping portion at one side of the upper contact, and the upper flexible cable of the fuse link 8| being drawn into the gripping portion at the opposite side of the upper contact.

In assembling the fuse links 60 and El in place in the switch said fuse links are applied to the switch one at a time. Ordinarily the switch is located in an elevated position and when this is so the operator passes the transverse finger of a fuse stick through the loop at the upper end of the fuse link so that the link is suspended from said finger. He then raises the suspended fuse link and pulls it outwardly so as to draw the portion of the lower flexible cable immediately above the button 61 deep into the gripping portion of the lower contact with which the fuse link is being assembled. The operator then raises the fuse link to the proper elevation and then pulls the upper portion of said fuse link outwardly so as to draw a portion of the upper flexible cable deep in one of the gripping portions of the upper contact. When the operator raises the fuse link with its lower end attached to a lower contact he winds the helical spring "portions of the lower contact with the result that said lower contact is placed under considerable tension which tends to draw the outer end of the lower contact downwardly. When the first fuse link has been applied to the switch as described the second fuse link is assembled with the switch in like manner whereupomthe switch is ready for use.

When the improved switch is fully fused and in use electrical energy passes from the terminal I through the upper contact to and through the fuse link 6| to the lower contact l2, and from said lower contact through the lower terminal it to the conductor connected thereto. It is to be noted that when the switch is fully fused no current passes through the fuse link 60 due to the fact that the lower contact ii is out of electrical connection with respect to the lower terminal iii. Now, if with the switch fully fused a fault occurs in the circuit, the fusible element of the fuse link 6! will part and thereby release the tensioned lower contact 52 which will move downwardly in response to action of the helical This will quickly separate the severed ends of the ruptured fusible element so as to quickly extinguish the electric are produced by severance of the fusible element, such extinguishment of the electric are being aided by the gas produced within the tube 64 when the horn fiber thereof is subjected to the heat of the electric arc.

When the outerportion of the lower contact i2 is moved downwardly as described the forwardly extended portions 24 of said lower contact I2 move into the spaces between the upright portions 52 and 53 of the transfer contact 48. The course of the current then is from the upper terminal through the upper contact 3, to and through the fuse link 60 to the lower contact II. From the lower contact the current passes through member 3i with which the lower contact H is associated to the transfer contact 48 and from said transfer contact to and through the lower contact i 2, which at this time contacts with the transfer contact 48, to the lower terminal i3 and the conductor connected thereto.

The switch thus far described in detail herein is constructed and operates in accordance with the switch disclosed in my previously filed application for patent identified above. The invention of the present application relates to means for slowing down the speed of movement of the lower contact l2 when the fuse link 6| associated therewith is ruptured and the outwardly extended portion of said contact moves downwardly to make contact with the transfer contact 48., and this means will now be described.

The extension IQ of the member l3 which serves as the lower terminal of the switch includes an outwardly and upwardly inclined housing portion which preferably, though not necessarily, is of the shape illustrated to the best advantage in Fig. 2. The housing portion 70 is closed at its opposite sides by plates 1| which are secured in place by means of tie rods 72. Supported for rotation by the opposed side plates ll of the housing portion 70 is a shaft 13 on'which is fixedly mounted a gear wheel 14 of relatively large diameter. The gear wheel 74 meshes with a pinion 75 (Fig. 4) which is mounted for rotation on a shaft 76 that is non-rotatably supported by the side plates H of the housing portion 10, and said pinion is provided with a hub or sleeve portion 75 on which a gear wheel 71 is fixedly mounted. The gear wheel H in turn meshes with a pinion 78 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 73 for rotary movement with respect thereto, and this pinion is provided with a hub or sleeve portion 78' on which a gear wheel i9 is fixedly mounted. The gear wheel 79 meshes with a pinion 80 which is supported by the fixed shaft for rotation with respect thereto, and said pinion 86 is provided with a sleeve iii to which is splined or otherwise received, a fly wheel 82. At its opposite end the fly wheel is provided with a bearing 83 which is supported by the fixed shaft 76 for rotation with respect thereto, said bearing contacting with the adjacent side plate of the housing portion 70 so as to prevent movement of the fly wheel and its associated parts laterally of the housing.

From the foregoing arrangement it is obvious that when the shaft 73 is rotated rotary motion will be imparted by the gear wheel '34 fixed to said shaft 73 to the pinion l5 and because of the relative sizes of the gear wheel N and the pinion '75 the speed of rotation of the pinion will be much greater than the speed of rotation of the gear wheel. Also rotation of the pinion 15 will be transmitted by the gear wheel 11 fixed to said pinion, to the pinion i8 mounted for rotation relative to the shaft 13 and here also the speed of rotation of the pinion 18 will be greatly increased because of. the relative sizes of the gear wheel 11 and the pinion 18. Additionally, rotation of the pinion 18 will be transferred by the gear wheel 19 fixed to said pinion to the pinion 3B with a consequent increase in speed of rotation of the pinion due to the relative sizes of said gear wheel and pinion, andbecause the fly wheel 232 is fixed to the pinion 88 it will rotate therewith at a rate of speed greatly in excess of the speed of rotation of the shaft 13.

Fixed to the shaft 13 adjacent to its opposite ends is a pair of arms 86 which extend from the shaft 13 parallel with respect to each other and with respect to the side plates of the housing portion it to points slightly beyond the curved outer'end wall of said housing portion. At these points the arms extend inwardly toward each other as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 3, and at the inner ends of said inwardly extended arm portions, outwardly extended ears B l are provided. Pivotally attached to the ears as of the arms 5% by means of a pivot is a pair of links as. At their opposite ends the links-85 are pivoted by means of pivots 35 to upstanding ears d! which are secured to a plate 89, said plate 98 having apertures formed therethrough through which the parallel portions 2d of the contact I2 extend and said plate being secured to said contact portions 25 by solder or otherwise.

When in the operation of the improved switch disclosed herein the fuse link ti is ruptured, the outwardly eiitended portion of the lower contact i2 is freed from restraint and as a result of the tension stored up in the spiral spring portions 23 said extended portion of said contact immediately starts to move downwardly toward the transfer contact 68. However, because the additional bur den of rotating the fiy wheel 82 and the speed reducing gearing associated therewith is applied to the downwardly moving contact it its speed of movement is reduced to a substantial degree with the result that sufiicient time is available under any and all conditions to interrupt the passage of current through the path of which the ruptured fuse link forms a part before thenew path of current is established. An important feature of the invention is that energy is stored up in the rapidly rotating fly wheel as the contact it moves toward the transfer contact :38 and this energy in the form of centrifugal force drives the contact portions 2 3 of the contact I2 deep into tight contact with portions of the transfer contact to make good electrical contact between these s. I claim:

1. A fuse switch including a tensioned, inherently resilient, contact element, contact means into contact with which said tensioned contact element is movable in response to energy stored up therein, said contact means including spaced portions between and in contact with which a portion of said contact element is movable to make electrical contact between said contact element and said contact means, and means connected to said contact element and including a rotating member and speed-reducing gearing associated therewith for converting the energy of said contact element. into kinetic energy which delays movement of the contact element into contact with the contact means and serves when contact is made between the contact element and the contact means to force said portion of the contact element between and into close contact with the spaced portions of said contact means.

2. A repeater fuse switch comprising an insulating support, a terminal, substantially rigid contact means supported by said insulating support in electrical connection with said terminal, a primary and a secondary contact supported by said insulating support in spaced relation with respect to said contact means and with respect to each other, a second terminal arranged in electricalconnection with said primary contact, a pair of fuse links mechanically and electrically connecting said primary contact and said secondary contact to said contact means, a transfer contact arranged in electrical connection with said secondary contact and into electrical contact with which said primary contact is adapted to move when the fuse link associated therewith is ruptured, said primary contact being formed of resilient material and the fuse link associated therewith serving to hold said primary contact in a slightly bowed condition when said primary contact is connected to said contact means whereby the outerend portion of'said primary contact receives initial rapid movement as it straightens from its bowed condition on rupture of the associated fuse link, and rotary means engaged with said primary contact for regulating the speed of movement of said primary contact as it moves towardsaid transfer contact and after said initial rapid movement of the outer end portion there- 0 3. A repeater fuse switch comprising an insurating support, a terminal, substantially rigid contact means supported by said insulating support in electrical connection with said terminal, a primary and a secondary contact supported by said insulating support in spaced relation with respect to said contact means and with respect to each other, a second terminal arranged in electrical connection with said primary contact, a pair of fuse links mechanically and electrically connecting said primary contact. and said secondary contact to said contact means, a transfer contact arranged in electrical connection with said secondary contact and into electrical contact with which said primary contact is adapted to move when the fuselink associated therewith is ruptured, said primary contact and said secondary contact being formed of resilient material and the fuse link associated therewith serving to hold said primary contact in a slightly bowed condition when said primary contact is connected to said contact means whereby the outer end portion of said primary contact receives initial rapid movement as it straightens from its bowed condition on rupture of the associated fuse link, and rotary means engaged with said primary contact for regulating the speed of movement of said primary contact as it moves toward said transfer contact and after said initial rapid movement of the outer end portion thereof.

4. A repeater fuse switch comprising a single insulating support, a terminal, substantially rigid contact means supported by said insulating support in electrical connection with said terminal, a primary and a secondary contact supported by said insulating support in spaced relation with respect to said contact means and with respect to each other, a second terminal arranged in electrical connection with said primary contact, a pair of fuse links mechanically and electrically connecting said primary contact and said secondary contact to said contact means, a transfer contact arranged in electrical connection with said secondary contact and into electrical contact with which said primary contact is adapted to move when the fuse link associated therewith is ruptured, said primary contact. being 5 the speed of movement of said primary contact as it moves toward said transfer contact and after said initial rapid movement of the outer end portion thereof.

5. A repeater fuse switch comprising an insulating support, a terminal, substantially rigid contact means supported by said insulating support in electrical connection with said terminal, a primary and a secondary contact supported by said insulating support in spaced relation with respect to said contact means and with respect to each other, a second terminal arranged in electrical connection with said primary contact, a pair of fuse links mechanically and electrically connecting said primary contact and said secondary contact to said contact means, a transfer contact arranged in electrical connection with said secondary contact and into electrical contact with which said primary contact is adapted to move when the fuse link associated therewith is ruptured, said primary contact being formed of resilient material and the fuse link associated therewith serving to hold said primary contact in a slightly bowed condition when said primary contact is connected to said contact means whereby the outer end portion of said primary contact receives initial rapid movement as it straightens from its bowed condition on rupture of the associated fuse link, rotary means engaged with said primary contact for regulating the speed of movement of said primary contact as it moves toward said transfer contact and after said initial rapid movement of the outer end portion thereof, and connecting means for operatively connecting said primary contact and said rotary means.

6. A repeater fuse switch comprising an insulating support, a terminal, substantially rigid contact means supported by said insulating support in electrical connection with said terminal, a primary and a secondary contact supported by said insulating support in spaced relation with respect to said contact means and with respect to each other, a second terminal arranged in electrical connection with said primary contact, a pair of fuse links mechanically and electrically connecting said primary contact and said secondary contact to said contact means, a transfer contact arranged in electrical connection with said secondary contact and into electrical contact with which said primary contact is adapted to move when the fuse link associated therewith is ruptured, said primary contact being formed of resilient material and the fuse link associated therewith serving to hold said primary contact in a slightly bowed condition when said primary contact is connected to said contact means whereby the outer end portion of said primary contact receives initial rapid movement as it straightens from its bowed condition on rupture of the associated fuse link, rotary means engaged with said primary contact for regulating the speed of movement of said primary contact as it moves toward said transfer contact and after said initial rapid movement of the outer end portion thereof, and connecting means for operatively connecting said primary contact and said rotary means, said connecting means comprising a link pivotally attached at its opposite ends to said primary contact and said rotary means respectively.

7. A repeater fuse switch comprising a single insulating support, a terminal, substantially rigid contact'means supported by said insulating support in electrical connection with said terminal, a primary and a secondary contact supported by said insulating support in spaced relation with respect to said contact means and with respect to each other, a second terminal arranged in electrical connection with said primary contact, a pair of fuse links mechanically and electrically connecting said primary contact and said secondary contact to said contact means, a transfer contact arranged in electrical connection with said secondary contact and into electrical contact with which said primary contact is adapted to move when the fuse link associated therewith is ruptured, said primary contact being formed of resilient material and the fuse link associated therewith serving to hold said primary contact in a slightly bowed condition when said primary contact is connected to said contact means whereby the outer end por.- tion of said primary contact receives initial rapid movement as it straightens from its bowed condition on rupture of the associated fuse link, rotary means engaged with said primary contact for regulating the speed of movement of said primary contact as it moves toward said transfer contact and after said initial rapid movement of the outer end portion thereof, and connecting means for operatively connecting said primary contact and said rotary means, said rotary means being supported by said single insulating support, and said connecting means comprising a link pivotally attached at its opposite ends to said primary contact and said rotary means respectively.

8. A repeater fuse switch comprising a single insulating support, a terminal, substantially rigid contact means supported by said insulating support in electrical connection with said terminal, a primary and a secondary contact supported by said insulatingsupport in spaced relation with respect to said contact means and with respect to each other, a second terminal arranged in electrical connection with said primary contact, a pair of fuse links mechanically and electrically connecting said primary contact and said secondary contact to said contact means, a transfer contact arranged in electrical connection with said secondary contact and into electrical contact with which said primary contact is adapted to move when the fuse link associated therewith is ruptured, said primary contact being formed of resilient material and the fuse link associated therewith serving to hold said primary contact in a slightly bowed condition when said primary contact is connected to said contact means whereby the outer end portion of said primary contact receives initial rapid movement as it straightens from its bowed condition on rupture of the associated fuse link, rotary means engaged with said primary contact for regulating the speed of movement of said primary contact as it moves toward said transfer contact and after said initial rapid movement of the outer end portion thereof, and connecting means for operatively connecting said primary contact and said rotary means, said rotary means being supported by said single insulating support and being a part of said second terminal, and said connecting means comprising a link pivotally attached at its opposite ends to said primary contact and said rotary means respectively.

9. A repeater fuse ,switch comprising an insulating support, a terminal, contact means supported by said insulating support in electrical connection with said terminal, a primary contact and a secoi'idart contact supported by said insulating supportin spaced relation with respect to said contact means and with respect to each other, a second terminal arranged in electrical connection with said primary contact, a pair of fuse links mechanicaliy and electrically connecting said primary contact end said secondary contact to said contact means, a, transier con= tect for placing sold primary contact in electrical connection with said secondary contact when the fuse link associated with said primary contact is ruptured, said primary contact being formed of resilient material and the fuse link associated therewith serving to hold said primary contact in a slightly bowed condition when saidv we: enm sox. 

